Aquitaine, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France

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This delightful mill property is bursting with character and cachet - and the ancient mill itself dates back to the 1500s!

Lovingly restored and renovated, the property and its three holiday cottages are completely ready for the new owners to move into. Cottage 1 is adjacent to the main house; Cottage 2 has been created by converting the mill building, which is set away from the main house. There is also a millstream running beneath the mill, which is visible through a glass floor panel in the sitting room!

Cottage 3 is a little further away and is next to an unconverted barn, which is currently used as a garage, but could be used for creating further rental accommodation (permission required).

Although the property is close to the centre of the village, there is no passing traffic, guaranteeing complete peace and tranquillity. It is next to an ancient bridge, which is only accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.

The main house and the adjacent cottage form a U-shape around an internal courtyard with decorative fountain and overlooked by a traditional open gallery on the first floor.

The main house (approx. 100m²) comprises the internal courtyard, a south-facing dining terrace, a sitting room and a kitchen with a dining area. From the internal courtyard, steps lead up to the charming gallery and two bedrooms, each with an en suite shower room. The bedrooms could be used for accommodating Bed and Breakfast guests.

The holiday cottage adjacent to the main house is approximately 48m² and has a private garden and covered terrace, which overlooks the river and grounds. The ground floor of the cottage comprises an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen, a shower room and a separate WC; the first floor of the cottage has two bedrooms, both with sloping ceilings.

Set away from the main building is the ancient mill (approx. 55m²), which still has the millstream passing beneath it, which you can observe via a glass panel installed on the floor. Beautifully restored using traditional and ecological materials, the mill is now a cosy gîte with a private garden area, a covered terrace, an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen, a shower room and a separate WC on the ground floor. The first floor of the mill has two bedrooms - both with sloping ceilings - and a second WC.

Cottage 3 is a single-storey cottage (approx. 60m²) and comprises a private covered terrace, an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen, a utility room, two bedrooms, a shower room and a separate WC.

Alongside this cottage is a partly converted barn of about 65m², which comprises a garage, a workshop and a studio-style bedroom area with an en suite shower room. Subject to permission, the barn would be perfect for creating an additional holiday cottage, B&B bedroom suites, a games room, a home cinema, a gym, an art studio...

Set in grounds of about 10,060m² (1.5 acres), there is plenty of room to instal a swimming pool near the main house or near the barn (subject to planning permission). There is more than enough room to create a children's play area, along with a summer kitchen and a barbecue area, where you - and your guests - can enjoy delicious breakfasts and lazy lunches in the sunshine... and romantic suppers gazing at the stars!

The grounds are crossed by two millstreams, which rejoin the nearby river bordering the grounds. The river is accessible from the land and the water is usually deep enough for you to paddle and cool off in the summer heat...

The property is located in a pretty village in the picturesque Vallée d’Aspe, not far from the riverside town of Oloron-Ste-Marie. There is a primary school in the village and a school bus to a selection of collèges and lycées in Oloron-SteMarie; local shops are about 5 minutes away.

Oloron-Ste-Marie (about 10 minutes away) has an excellent choice of shops and hypermarkets, along with a theatre, a hospital, a cinema and a swimming pool. There are several Pyrenean ski resorts just 45 - 60 minutes away - and numerous chic beach resorts 80 - 90 minutes away on the Atlantic coast.

THE MAIN HOUSE (103m²)

Ground floor:
- a south-facing dining terrace
- an internal courtyard
- a sitting room (22m²)
- a kitchen with a dining area (26m²)
- a utility room (2.4m²)
- a WC

First floor:
- a gallery overlooking the courtyard
- two bedrooms, each with an en suite shower room (21m² + 5.5m², 19m² + 4.5m²)


COTTAGE 1 - ADJACENT TO THE MAIN HOUSE (48m²)

Ground floor:
- a covered terrace and private garden area
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen with a wood-burning insert (20.6m²)
- a shower room
- a WC

First floor:
- two bedrooms (9.9m², 9.8m²)


COTTAGE 2 - THE MILL (56m²)

Ground floor:
- a covered terrace and private garden area
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen with a wood-burning insert (27m²)
- a shower room
- a WC

First floor:
- two bedrooms (8.1m², 9m²)
- a WC


COTTAGE 3 (60m²)

Ground floor:
- a covered terrace and private garden area
- an open-plan sitting room/dining room/kitchen (25m²)
- a utility room (5m²)
- two bedrooms (9.5m², 9.1m²)
- a shower room
- a WC


THE BARN AND THE GROUNDS

- a barn (65m²) incorporating a garage, a workshop and a bedroom (8.4m²) with an en suite shower room (2.9m²)
- riverside grounds of approx. 10,060m² (2.5 acres)
- two millstreams, one of which passes under the mill
- an open-sided summerhouse
- a woodstore


THE POTENTIAL!

This excellent property comprises approximately 100m² of living space in the main house, making it perfect for a couple or a young family. Should you need additional living space for a larger family, the adjacent cottage (Cottage 1) could be used as an annexe - or the main house itself could be enlarged (architect's plans available - permission required).

All three holiday cottages are ready to rent out to holidaymakers straight away - and out of season, the cottages would be ideal for welcoming Bed and Breakfast guests who want to book shorter stays. The area’s proximity to the Pyrénées and the Atlantic coast brings many visitors to the Béarn and Basque Country all year round, many of whom are looking for high-quality accommodation, especially during the summer months, the skiing season, Christmas and New Year...

Should you wish to create a fourth cottage or some luxurious Bed and Breakfast suites, the partially converted barn could be transformed into holiday accommodation (permission required)... or you could use it as an office, a consulting room, a gym, an art studio…

Located near the Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle pilgrim route), you may also wish to offer B&B to passing pilgrims as they make their way south from Oloron-Ste-Marie towards Spain...


SERVICES & TECHNICAL

Double glazing
Cable internet connection
Mains water
Mains drainage
Heating...
Main house: underfloor (ground floor) + electric heaters (first floor) + wood stove
Cottage 1: wood-burning insert + electric heaters
Cottage 2: reversible air-conditioning/air-air heat pump + wood-burning insert
Cottage 3: reversible air-conditioning/air-air heat pump


THE LOCAL AREA

Situated on the outskirts of a lovely village in the beautiful Béarn, this super property is about 10 minutes away from the Medieval market town of Oloron-Ste-Marie and 45 minutes from the historic city of Pau. Oloron-Ste-Marie and Pau are both accessible by train and bus from nearby villages in the Vallée d'Aspe.

The closest French ski resorts are at Eaux-Bonnes, Issarbe, Braca, La-Pierre-St-Martin and Somport (all about 45 - 50 minutes away); the closest ski resort in Spain is at Candanchú (50 minutes). Biarritz and other Atlantic beach resorts are just over 90 minutes away.

The Béarn is extremely popular with tourists all year round, with many visitors coming to walk, cycle, ski and explore the mountains. The area is also excellent for fishing, especially in the nearby rivers (Gaves), including the Gave d’Oloron, which is famous for its salmon.

Airports: Pau, Tarbes-Lourdes, Biarritz,
Train: villages in the Valley d'Aspe, Oloron-Ste-Marie, Pau (TGV)
Long-distance coach: Pau, Orthez
Ferry: Bilbao, Santander

Ski: Eaux-Bonnes, Gourette, Braca, La-Pierre-St-Martin, Issarbe, Somport, Candanchú (Spain)...
Beaches: Biarritz, St-Jean-de-Luz, Hendaye, Hossegor...

Attractions: Aqua Béarn, Parc’Ours, Parc de Loisirs: Espace Ludopia, Le Petit Train d’Artouste, Aventure Parc Aramits, Grotte de la Verna, Grottes de Bétharram, Gorges de Kakuetta, Passerelle d’Holzarte, Chemin-de-St-Jacques-de-Compostelle…